December 11, 2000

Texas Baptist Forum
Gossip & glue
___"Put brakes on Loshon Hosa," reads a bumper sticker designed by Michael Feld, a rabbi in Cleveland, Ohio. Those Hebrew words mean "negative speech" or gossip.
___America's favorite pastime is not football; it's gossip, Feld claims. Requests for his bumper stickers have come from as far away as China, England and Brazil.
___The Apostle Paul once made a trip to Jerusalem with Trophimus, a Gentile friend from

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Ephesus --Turkey. Some Jewish leaders saw the two together in town. Paul entered the Jewish temple, where Gentiles were not allowed.
___A rumor soon started about Paul. The Bible says, "They supposed that Paul took Trophimus into the temple" (Acts 21:29). Because of that rumor, the Jews almost killed Paul. Then he was put in chains and soon was sent to Caesarea and kept in prison for two years. Then he was put on a ship, sent to Rome and was in jail for two more years--all because of a rumor. The people "supposed" Paul had done something wrong. They saw him with someone.
___Two tubes of Super Glue cost about $1.59. Sometimes, if I had bought a couple of tubes and put that stuff on my lips and tongue, I never would have said a few words that I had to eat a little later.
___The Bible speaks to us at this point. Proverbs 26:20 states, "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."
___ Preston Taylor
___ Sanderson

Equal status
___When looking at the revised Baptist General Convention of Texas budget remittance form, I see that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is listed equally along with the Southern Baptist Convention and "other" as how to specify giving (in the second option).
___My understanding from some Baptist leadership and literature was that CBF is not a prominent group that should be given much attention. Yet here CBF is listed as seemingly equal the SBC. Why would it be given equal status to the SBC? My understanding is some of the things CBF supports are not endorsed by most Baptists.
___The move by the BGCT is wrong, and their reasons for doing so are suspect. We have not accomplished anything except divisiveness--if we can't agree with each other as Christians, what must non-Christians think about Christ?
___ George Hodges
___ Port Arthur

Political rally
___Recently, while visiting my cousin, I attended a Baptist church in Texas. I thought I had gone to a place to worship the Lord. Instead, I found myself attending what I would describe as a political rally.
___I was extremely offended, saddened for the state of Baptist churches and angry at the abuse of the pulpit by the minister. The pastor was very explicit in not only simply sharing his political views (of which I am not the least interested) but of delivering an enthusiastic political speech in favor of his candidate of choice. As he had a captive audience, I suppose he felt he could take advantage of the situation. I can only describe such behavior as arrogant. The position of minister in a church does not convey with it the preferential right to espouse personal political views from the pulpit.
___Many churches in America may not long continue to enjoy the "not-for-profit" status because they are obviously more interested in activities other than sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The church leaders can congratulate themselves, and the likes of Jerry Falwell, when they find themselves being treated "unfairly" by the government.
___I was raised in a Baptist church. However, since 1980, I have chosen to be a member of a non-Baptist Protestant denomination. Experiences such as I had at this Texas Baptist church simply confirm my view.
___ Deborah Straughan
___ Jakarta, Indonesia

Remove Arabs
___I was appalled and then thoroughly disgusted with the Baptist Standard, what I have called my newspaper for many, many years.
___Since May of 1948, I have longed and prayed for the return of the Jews to their homeland. But here on the front page of my Baptist Standard, I read an article rooting for the Palestinians, who are only Arabs (Nov. 27).
___I find nowhere in God's word where he broke the promise to Abraham to take back the land he gave to Abraham. The Palestinians will eventually be removed from Israel.
___I hope our taxes and prayers will run them out.
___ Jack C. Aduddell
___ Littlefield

Bucket of worms
___Thank you for exposing the Palestinian Lutheran Christian Mitri Raheb as being anti-Israeli (Nov. 27). He expects U.S. Christians to stop the Apache helicopters.
___Raheb should know that God has given the land (Palestine) to the Jewish people.
___The Jews came in 2000 B.C., the Palestinians 36 years ago. Arabs were integrating with Jews until the Arab-backed Palestine Liberation Army told the Arabs to leave their homes and land in Israel, and the PLO would win the land back for them. Those who left continue to be manipulated by the PLO.
___Where was Raheb when shooting came from Beit Jalee, the Arab Christian village, aimed at Gilo, a Jewish village? The Christians are not suspected, but their homes are most likely used by PLO soldiers.
___The PLO continues to hold the Arab refugees from Israel hostage. Raheb may not know that his own country, Jordan, like the other 26 Arab countries, will not allow the refugees to immigrate.
___This bucket of worms has no bottom.
___ Perry L. Winn
___ Lampasas

It is time
___Christ said, "Every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25).
___At the BGCT annual session, moderates or Texas Baptists or whatever you want to label them didn't win any more than conservatives or fundamentalists or whatever you want to label the other side have won at the national level. Baptists lost.
___Not only did we lose, but ultimately the greatest mission-sending mechanism ever given to man by God will lose also.
___It is time that someone on some side wakes up.
___The Apostle Paul wrote, "If it is possible, as far as depends upon you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).
___It is time for leadership on both sides of this mess to realize they are responsible for where we find ourselves. It is time each of them accepted the responsibility for stirring the pot in the local church, and as they accept that responsibility they should resign because they have failed to keep the peace.
___It is time both sides quit praying about each other and start praying for one another.
___It is time that as a Baptist people we quit blindly following the leadership on both sides that have played fast and loose with the facts to suit their own needs and hold them accountable for their words.
___It is time to wake up.
___ Shawn Brewer
___ Eastland

Protest program
___On Dec. 3, the Showtime network premiered a program called "Queer as Folk." TV Guide and Time magazines report that this series will feature nudity and overt, undisguised homosexual acts between both gay men and lesbians. It also will feature a sexual relationship between a 29-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy.
___Many Baptists have either cable or satellite packages that include the Showtime network. If you do, you are helping to finance this trash on TV.
___Although Showtime likely would ignore complaints from individuals, it could not afford to ignore a complaint from a major provider, like Direct TV or one of the large cable franchises. Therefore, all Christians who have an extra-cost satellite or cable package that includes the Showtime network should call your provider and cancel that portion of your service. Be sure to tell them this is in protest of Showtime's new "Queer as Folk" series.
___Both the TV Guide and Time articles quote the gay motto: "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it." But the Bible tells us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
___Cancelling Showtime is the best way to do that.
___ Jimmy Edgarson
___ Port Gibson, Miss.

Remove CBF creedal statement
___This fall, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council issued a creedal statement concerning the issue of homosexuality.
___Their opening words, "As Baptist Christians, we believe ..." established this document as creedal. What has been established as normative for people to believe is that a "Christian sexual ethic is faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman and celibacy in singleness." It follows, then, that whoever does not adhere to this construct is not a part of the group that has made the definition, "Baptist Christians."
___The document further states the usual affirmation of freedom/autonomy, etc., but because of the first five introductory words, the affirmation of freedom/autonomy is nullified. How can a person have freedom to deviate from what is normative? Quite simply, they have the freedom, but when they deviate from the norm, they are specified as "sinners" by the group in power.
___ I wonder why this "organizational value" is proclaimed at this time. In other words, what is it this time that the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community is being scapegoats for? Maybe it is power/legitimization for the CBF. Or could it be that money and support from church is at the root of this maneuver?
___ I challenge anyone in the CBF to either remove this creedal statement, reword it or provide answers to the questions of why this stance is being taken at this time.
___ Jason Heap
___ Fort Worth

Don Brown's faithfulness
___ Amen to Ronnie Chilton's letter (Dec. 4) regarding the retirement of Don Brown, director of missions for Collin Baptist Association.
___ In 1964, he left the pastorate of First Baptist Church in Canton to become pastor of my home church in Baton Rouge, La. In 1971, Don came to my home and led me to faith in Christ. I was 9 years old. I was called to preach while a freshman in college.
___ Although I was attending college in Louisiana and Don was pastoring in California (and later at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas), I always admired him and appreciated his faithfulness to Christ, the church and his denomination.
___ Just to let you know how God works in "mysterious ways," I came to Texas in 1987 to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have lived and pastored in Texas ever since. Guess what? In January of 2000, I was called as pastor of First Baptist Church in Canton, the church he left in 1964 to come to my hometown and home church. A coincidence? No way! God was directing him the whole time. Because of his faithfulness to share Christ with a 9-year-old boy who was being raised by his grandparents, I believe, I am in Canton sharing Christ with people who were just like me in 1971.
___ I just hope I can be as faithful and committed as Don Brown has been in 40-plus years of ministry.
___ Tim Watson
___ Canton



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